Emmi has announced that it is to acquire 100% of the shares of Canadian cheese importer JL Freeman, as it looks to expand its position in North America.
The acquisition will increase the potential for Emmi to export speciality cheeses and other products to the US and Canada, and “make more targeted use of resources to strengthen its position in the speciality cheese business”.
JL Freeman is Canada’s leading importer of speciality cheeses, generating annual sales of CA$38m. Switzerland is already its largest import market, accounting for more than half of its total imports, and this latest acquisition will allow it to develop the long-established relationship it has with Emmi.
Emmi’s CEO, Urs Riedener, commented: “JL Freeman is an established, profitable company which has been working successfully with Emmi for almost 60 years. Its leading position in the import of speciality cheeses offers an excellent marketing opportunity for Swiss cheese varieties and specialities such as Kaltbach and Swiss Fondue.”
JL Freeman will continue to operate independently of Emmi and will retain its existing managerial team when the acquisition, planned for the first quarter of this year, is finalised.
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